Door operating mechanism



July 3i, w56 2,756,465

W. R. SHAVER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Deo. 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l ummm July 31, 1956 Filed Dec. 26, 1952 W. R. SHAVER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 'A ffwiiimw @M/WWQ:

July 31, 1956 w. R. SHAVER DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Deo. 26, 1952 im a w 4 'WWW July 31, 1956 w. R. SHAVER 2,756,465

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Deo. 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mlllllll 4 111 Y will mii mula .J A.

July 31, 1956 w. R. SHAVER 2,756,465

DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jeff-56 I Q I mm, Ii* .38 35535153 United States Patent O DOOR OPERATING NIECHANESF William R. Shaver, Michigan City, ind., assigner to Pailman-Standard Car Manufacturing Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Application December 26, 1952, Serial No. 327,977

13 Claims. (Cl. Ztl-22) This invention relates to railway freight car doors and is primarily concerned with an operating mechanism for a slidable railway box car side wall door.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism for a railway freight car door slidable along a vertically disposed wall of the car.

The principal object of the invention is to provide 1n a railway freight car having a vertically disposed wall including a door opening, a door mounted on the wall for slidable movement longitudinally to cover and uncover the door opening and iianges secured to the top f and bottom edges of the door opening, each ange being provided with an opening, elements pivotally connected to the door adjacent the top and bottom edges thereof, a lever pivotally connected to the door, members having one end pivotally connected to one of the elements and the other end of each pivotally connected to the lever and one of the members having a weight greater 'than the other causing one of the elements to pivot into engagement with and to ride on the adjacent flange during the closing movement of the door until that element enters the opening in the ange whereupon the other of the elements pivots into the opening in the adjacent flange and when force is applied to the lever by the operator both elements act to move the door into fully closed position. a

Another object of the invention is to provide 1n a railway freight car having a vertically disposed wall including a door opening, a door mounted on the wall for slidable movement longitudinally to cover and uncover the door opening and flanges secured to the top and bottom edges of the door opening, each ange having an opening, an element having a hoook positioned adjacent the top edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto, a second element having a hook positioned adjacent the bottom edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto, a lever pivotally connected to the door, a member having one end pivotally connected to the first element and its other end pivotally connected to the lever and a second member having one end pivotally connected to the second element and its other end pivotally connected to the lever, the second member having a weight less than the first member causing the hook on the rst element to be urged upwardly to ride on the adjacent ange during the closing movement of the door until the hook enters the opening in the flange whereupon the hook on the second element enters the opening in the adjacent flange and when force is applied on the lever by the operator the hooks on both elements act to move the door into fully closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a railway freight car having a side wall including a door opening, a door mounted on the wall for slidable movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncover the door opening and flanges secured to the top and bottom edges of the opening, each ange having an opening and a cam ice secured in the opening at the top edge of the door opening, an element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the top edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a second element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the bottom edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a lever pivotally connected to the door, an L-shaped member having one end pivotally connected to the other end of the first element and its other end pivotally connected to the lever, a bar having one end pivotally connected to the other end of the second element and its other end pivotally connected to the lever, the bar Ihaving a weight less than the member causing the hook on the iirst element to be urged upwardly to ride on the ange at the top edge of the door opening during the closing movement of the door until the hook enters the opening whereupon the hook on the second element enters the opening in the flange at the bottom edge of the door opening and when force is applied on the lever by the operator causes the hooks on both elements to act to move the door into fully closed position.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a railway box car having a side wall including a door opening, a door mounted on the side wall for slidable movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncover the opening and a horizontally disposed ange secured to the top edge of the door opening and extending thereacross and provided with an opening adjacent the front edge of the door opening and a second horizontally disposed ange secured to the bottom edge of the door opening adjacent the front edge thereof and having a lesser length than the first flange and provided with an opening, a cam secured in the opening in the first flange, an element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the top and front edges of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a second element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the bottom and front edges of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a lever disposed between the first and second elements and pivotally connected to the door intermediate its ends, a substantially vertically disposed generally L-shaped member having its upper end pivotally connected to the other end of the irst element and its lower end pivotally connected to the lever on one side of the point of pivotal connection to the door, a substantially vertically disposed pair of parallel bars having their lower ends pivotally connected to the other end of the second element and their upper ends pivotally connected to the lever on the other side of the point of pivotal connection to the door, the pair of bars having a combined weight less than the weight of the member causing the hook on the tirst element to be urged upwardly to ride on the lower face of the first flange during the greater part of the closing movement of the door until the hook on the rst element enters the opening in the iiange whereupon the hook on the second element enters the opening in the second flange and when force is applied on the lever by the operator the hooks on both elements act to move the door into fully closed position.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by the construction and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a side wall of a railway box car at the door opening showing the door in fully closed position and the mechanism which moves the door into fully closed position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lower portion of the door and that portion of the mechanism, the door being in fully closed position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational fragmentary view of the upper portion of the door at the front edge thereof and that portion of the mechanism, with the front edge of the door being spaced from the front edge of the door opening and the upper element of the mechanism being shown just prior to engagement in the opening in the angle at the top edge of the door opening;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevational fragmentary view of the lower portion of the door at the front edge thereof and that portion of the mechanism, the door being in fully closed position and the lower element of the mechanism being shown after it has been pivoted out of the opening in the plate at the bottom edge of the door opening just prior to pulling the door to a position uncovering the door opening;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevational fragmentary vview of the upper portion of the door at the front edge thereof and that portion of the mechanism on the upper portion of the door, the door being in fully closed position and the upper element of the mechanism being shown in .the opening in the angle at the top edge of the door opening;

Fig, 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 8 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the door showing the lever in a vertical position and showing the catch on the lever engaged in the siot in the plate on the door so as to lock the lever in a vertical position.

The invention proposes an operating mechanism for a slidable railway box car side door. A horizontally disposed tiange is positioned at the top edge of the door opening in the side wall and extends from the front edge of the door opening across the opening and a considerable dis-tance beyond the rear edge of the opening and this flange is secured to the side wall and is provided with an openingradjacent the front edge of the door opening. Another horizontally disposed ange having avery short extent is positioned at the bottom edge of the door opening adjacent the front edge thereof and is secured to the side wall and is provided with an opening. A cam is secured in the opening in the ange at the top edge of the door opening. An element having a hook on one end is positioned adjacent the top and front edges of the door and is pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends and a similar element is positioned adjacent the bottom and front edges of the door and is pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends. A lever is disposed adjacent the front edge of the door between these elements and is pivotally connected to the door intermediate its ends. A substantially vertically disposed generally L-shaped member has its upper end pivotally connected to the other end of the element at the top of the door and has its lower end pivotally connected to the lever on one side of the point of pivotal connection or" the lever to the door. A substantially vertically disposed pair of parallel bars have their lower ends pivotally connected to the other end of the element at the bottom of the door and have their upper ends pivotally connected to the lever on the other side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door. The pair of bars have a lesser length than the L-member and have a combined weight less than the weight of that member. The greater weight of the L-member causes the hook on the element at the top of the door to be urged upwardly and to ride on the lower face of the liange at the top of the door opening during the greater part of the closing movement of the door until the hook enters the opening in the flange whereupon the hook at the bottom of the door enters the opening in the flange at the bottom and when force is applied on the lever by the operator both hooks act to move the door into fully closed position. A horizontally Iil) 4 disposed plate is positioned between the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door and the element at the bottom of the door and is secured to the door and is provided with a slot therein. A catch is longitudinally slidably mounted on the lever and is adapted to be engaged in the slot after the door has been moved to fully closed position to hold the lever in a locked position.

In the drawings, 10 designates a railway box car having a side wali 1 and a roof 12. Side sills 13 extend longitudinally of the car and a side sl reinforcement 14 depends from and is secured to each side sill. Side plates 15 extend longitudinally of the car and each side plate has its upper ange secured to the roof 12. Each side wall 11 has a door opening 16 and a plurality of spaced gusset plates 17 are secured to the side sill reinforcement 14 below the door opening and a horizontally disposed track 13 is mounted upon and secured to the gusset plates. A horizontally disposed Z-shaped top retainer 19 is disposed above the door opening 16 and one end of which is situated at the iront edge of the door opening While the retainer extends across the door opening and projects beyond the rear edge of the door opening and its other end is located at a considerable distance from the rear of the door opening. The top retainer 19 has its upper flange riveted to the lower flange of the side plate 15. A door 2t) is seated upon the horizontal flanges of the side sills 13 and a threshold plate 21 extends across the door opening 16 and has its horizontal anges disposed on top of the oor and the vertical flange of the side sill and has its Vertical flange spaced from the vertical ange of the side sill.

A door 22 is comprised of a plurality of horizontally disposed overlapping metal sheets 23 and the lower horizontal edge of each sheet has a horizontal corrugation 24 which is welded to the upper horizontal edge of the next lower sheet. A door header 25 is disposed below the top retainer 19 and has its vertical flange secured to the lower ange of the side plate 1S. A Z-shaped metaly strip 29 is secured to the upper horizontal edge of the uppermost sheet 23 and its upper llange is rebent so as to form a horizontal flange 3Q. The upper flange of the metal strip 29 projects between the top retainer 19 and the header 2S so as to maintain the upper edge of the door 22 in a vertical position. A metal strip 26 is secured to the lower horizontal edge of the lowermost metal sheet 23 on the door 22 and an angle 27 is secured to the inner face of the metal strip. A guard 28 is secured to the angle 27 and projects between the side sill reinforcement 14 and the track 18 so as to keep the bottom edge of the door 22 from sliding otf the track. A plurality of ball bearings 31 are disposed between the track 13 and the horizontal ange of the angle 27. Thus it will be seen that the door 22 is movable longitudinally of the side wall 11 since the bottom of the door rolls on slides upon the track 18 through the ball bearings 31 and the top of the door slides between the top retainer 19 and the header 2S. The door 22 is movable in Yeither direction along the side wall 11 so as to cover and uncover the door opening 16.

A horizontally disposed Z-shaped member 32 is positioned at the top edge of the door opening 16 and extends from the front edge of the door opening across the opening and projects a considerable distance beyond the rear edge of the opening. The upper iiange of the angle 32 is welded to the lower flange of the top retainer 19 as best shown in Fig. 6. A thick metal plate 33 is disposed on the web 34 of the angle 32 adjacent the front edge of the door opening 16 and is welded to the web and the lower ange of the angle. Aligned openings or slots 3S are provided in the plate 33 and the web 34 of the angle 32. The web 34 of the angle 32 and the plate 33-may be said to form a horizontally disposed iiange. A thick metal plate 36 is positioned at the bottom edge of the door opening 16 adjacent the front edge thereof and is welded to the vertical ange of the track 18 'and is provided with a'n opening or slot 37 therein midway of its length. The plate 36 may be said to be a horizontally disposed flange which has a lesser length than the web 34 of the angle 32. A cam 38 is positioned in the openings 35 in the plate 33 and web 34 of angle 32 and is welded to the plate. A reinforcing plate 39 is positioned adjacent the top and front edges of the door 22 and is welded to the inner face of the uppermost metal sheet 23. A spacer 40 is disposed opposite the reinforcing plate 39 and is welded to the outer face of the uppermost metal sheet 23 as best shown in Fig. 6. A reinforcing plate 41 is positioned adjacent the bottom and front edges of the door 22 and is welded to the inner face of the lowermost metal sheet 23 and abuts the top edge of the metal strip 26 and a spacer 42 is welded to the outer face of the strip and to the outer face of the lowermost metal sheet as best shown in Fig. 8. A reinforcing plate 43 (see Figs. 2, 4 and 7) is positioned between the spacers 40 and 42 and adjacent the spacer 42 and is welded to the inner faces of a pair of intermediate metal sheets 23. A mounting plate 44 is disposed opposite the reinforcing plate and is arranged diagonally of the door 22 and is welded to the outer face of the pair of intermediate metal sheets. An angle 4S has one end welded to the mounting plate 44 and a plate 46 has a V-shaped cut out in one end thereof and this end of the plate is welded to the angle intermediate the ends thereof. A plate 47 is spaced from the plate 46 and has one face disposed on the other end of the angle 4S and the plate 47 is welded to the angle. A pair of spaced parallel braces 48 are welded to the angle 45 andvto the mounting plate 44.

An element 49 is positioned adjacent the top and front edges of the door 22 and a pin 50 has one end welded to the spacer and the element is pivotally mounted intermediate ends on the pin and a washer 51 is welded to the free end of the pin. The element 49 has a hook 52 on one end thereof. An element 53 is positioned adjacent the bottom and front edges of the door 22 and a pin 54 has one end welded to the spacer 42 and the element is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the pin and a washer 55 is welded to the free end of the pin. The element 53 has a hook 56 on one end thereof. A

lever 57 is disposed between the plates 46 and 47 and a pin 58 extends through the lever intermediate its ends and the plates and is welded to the plates thus pivotally mounting the lever on the pin. A substantially vertically disposed rod 59 tubular in cross section has a pair of spaced extensions 60 welded to its upper end and the other end of the element 49 is disposed between the extensions. A washer 61 is welded to the inner face of each extension 60 and a pin 62 extends through the extensions and the washers and the element 49 and the pin is welded to the extensions thus pivotally connecting the upper end of the rod 59 to the element. An extension 63 is welded to the lower end of the rod 59 and a pair of plates 64 and 65 are arranged at an angle slightly greater than a right angle with the rod and have one of their ends welded to the lower end of the extension. 'I'he extensions 60, the rod 59, the extension 63 and the plates 64 and 65 may be said to form a generally L- shaped member. A pin 66 extends through the plates 64 and 65 and the lever 57 and is welded to the plates thus pivotally connecting the free ends of the plates to the lever on one side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the plates 46 and 47. A substantially vertically disposed pair of spaced parallel members or bars 67 are disposed below the L-shaped member. Each bar 67 has a washer 68 welded to its inner face adjacent its lower end and the other end of the element 53 is disposed between the bars 67 and a pin 69 extends through the bars and the washers and the element and the ends of the pin are welded to the bars. Thus the lower ends of the bars 67 are pivotally connected to the element 53. The lever 57 is disposed between the upper ends of the bars 67 and a pin 70 extends through the bars and the lever and the ends of the pin are welded to the bars thus pivotally connecting the upper ends of the bars to the lever on the other side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the plates 46 and 47. 'I'he bars 67 have a length less than the combined length of the extensions 60 and the rod 59 and the extension 63 as best shown in Fig. l and the bars have a combined weight less than the combined weight of the pair of extensions 60, the rod 59, the extension 63, and the plates 64 and 65. A horizontally disposed plate 71 is positioned between the plates 46 and 47 and the spacer 42 and is welded to one of the intermediate metal sheets 23 on the door 22. The plate 71 has a slot 72 therein. The lever 57 has a slot 73 therein extending longitudinally thereof and a pin 74 having flattened sides is slidably disposed in the slot and a catch 75 is welded to the free end of the pin as best shown in Figs. 7 and 9.

The operation of the door 22 is as follows: Assuming that the door is in a position away from the door opening 16 and it is desired to close it. The door is moved toward the door opening by the operator and due to the weight of the member 59 being greater than the pair of bars 67 the element 49 is pivoted upwardly and its hook 52 is constantly urged against and rides upon the lower face of the web 34 of the angle 32 during the greater part of the closing movement of the door until reaching the openings 35 and 37 in the plates 33 and 36 respectively and upon reaching the opening 35 the hook 52 instantly enters the opening. The cam 38 in the opening 35 in the web 34 serves as a guide for the hook 52 to go into the opening and the curved surface of the cam which the hook slides on allows the hook to travel smoothly into the opening. At this same time the bottom hook 56 on the element 53 is pivoted into the opening 37 in the plate 36. The use of additional force applied to the lever 57 by the operator causes the hooks on both of the elements 49 and 53 together to move the door 22 into fully closed position. During the time the door 22 goes from a position away from the door opening 16 to a position over the door opening approaching the nal closed position the lever 57 occupies a substantially horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4 but when the hooks 52 and 56 enter the top and bottom openings the lever is swung to a vertical position by the operator as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to draw the door fully closed. After the door 22 has thus been fulcrumed to fully closed position the catch 75 can be slid into the slot 73 in the lever 57 and engaged in the slot 72 in the plate 71 to hold the lever in a locked or fixed position. To move the door 22 away from the door opening 16 the operator slides the catch 75 out of the slot 72 in the plate 71 so that the lever 57 can be moved. The operator then lifts the lever 57 upwardly until it is in a horizontal position causing the hooks 52 and 56 to pivot out of the openings 35 and 37 respectively and acting as fulcrums to force the door from fully closed position and thus starts the opening movement of the door whereupon it can be moved freely toward the rear end of the car to expose the door opening. The corrugations 24 are cut away at 76 so as to provide space for the rod 59, the lever 57, and the pair of bars 67.

The sliding side doors of railway box cars are comparatively easy to slide over the door opening until the final closing position is reached. From this position to fully closed position a great amount of force is required to move the door. Also, in opening the door a great amount of force is required to move the door from fully closed position until the front edge of the door is moved away from the front edge of the door opening and then comparatively little force is required to open the door to fully open position. Door operating mechanisms which are located somewhat below the center of the door and at the front edge is in use at the present time and in opening or closing the door with this type of mechanism which the operator pushes or pulls causes a single force to be directed longitudinally of the -careand since the single force is exerted below the center of the door the friction normally exerted at the top and bottom edges of the door will be changed and the force required is greater than if the line of force were through the center of the door.

Referring to the present invention it will be seen thatv the upper hook is pivoted on the upper fronty edge of the door to provide one fulcrum and the lower hook is pivoted on the lower front edge of the door to provide another fulcrum. In opening or closing the door with this operating mechanism approximately one-half of thev force required is directed longitudinally of the car at the upper edge of the door and approximately one-half of the force is directed longitudinally of the car at the lower edge. Thus two lines of force longitudinally of the car are created and the forces are approximately the same which assures that the normal amount of friction at the top and bottom edges of the door opening will not be changed by the operating mechanism during its use. ln this operating mechanism the leverage ratio is particularly favorable to the operator and since one fulcrum is located'at the top of the door and the other fulcrum at the bottom the operator can cause a much greater y" total force to be directed longitudinally of the car, than with, the operating mechanism presently in use, which means that the door can be moved to fully closed position and started in the initial opening movement with speed and ease.

When the door is in the fully closed position the operating lever is in a vertically disposed position and the weight of the L-shaped member and lthe Weight ofthe lever constantly act to help resist opening of the door by impacts encountered while the car is in motion. The operating mechanism of the present invention is extremely simple and easy to operate and is made up of a small number of parts. The various parts of the operating mechanism are mounted on the door by welding.

, From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided an operating mechanism which acts at the top and bottom of the door with the aid of the operator to exert forces either for moving the door into fully closed position or starting it in the opening operation, is simple in operation and made up of a small number of parts, and is used for effectively securing the dooragainst displacement.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway freight car having a vertically disposed wall including a door opening, a door mounted on the wall for slidable movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncover the door opening, a ilange positioned at the top edge of the opening and secured to the wall and provided with an opening, a ange positioned at the bottom edge of the door opening and secured to the wall and provided with an opening, an element positioned adjacent the top edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto, an element positioned adjacent the bottom edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto, a lever pivotally connected to the door, a member having CIK one end pivotally connected to one of the elements and having its other end pivotally connected to the lever, and a member having one end pivotally connected to the other of the elements and having its other end pivotally connected to the lever, one of the members having aV weight greater than the other of the members causing one of the elements to pivot into engagement with and to ride on the adjacent flange during the closing movement of the door until that element enters the opening in the ange whereupon the other of the elements pivots into the opening in the adjacent flange and whereby force applied on the operating lever causes both elements to move the door into fully closed position.

2. ln Ia railway freight -car having `a vertically disposed wall including a door opening, a door mounted on the wall for slida'ble movement longitudinally ,thereof Ito coverv and uncover the opening, a ange positioned at fthe rtop'v edge of the door opening and secured to the wall 'and providediwith an opening, a flange positioned at @the bottom edge of the door opening and Vsecured to the wall and provided with an opening, an element having a lhook lthereon positioned adjacent the top edge of ythe door and pivotally connected thereto, an element having 'a hook thereon positioned adjacent the bottom edge of the door and pivotally connectedV thereto, 'a lever pivotally connected lto the door, a member having one end pivotally connected to one of the elements and having its other end pivotally connected lto the lever, and a member having one end pivotally connected to the other of the elements Iand having its other end pivotally connected to the lever, one of the members havingy a weight greater than the other causing the hook on one of the: elements to move into engagement with `and to ride on the adjacent llange duringrethe closing movement of the door until the hook on thatelemententers Ithe opening in the, flange whereupon the 'hook on 'the lother element enters the opening .in the adjacent flange and whereby force applied on the operating lever causes the hooks on both elements to move the door into fully closed position.

3. In a railway freight car having a vertically disposed wall including ya door` opening, aL door mounted on the wall for slid-able movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncover the opening, a iirst flange positioned at the -top edge -of the door opening and secured 4tothe wall and provided with lan opening, asecond flange positioned at vthe bottom edge of the door opening and secured'to the wall and provided with -an opening, ya first. element positioned adjacent the top edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto, a second element .positioned adjacent the ybottom edge of the door .and pivotally connectedV thereto, a. lever pivotally connected to the door, a first member having one end pivotally connected to the iirst element and having its other end pivotally connected to the lever, and a secondV member having one end pivotally connected to Ithe second element and having its 'other end pivotally connected to lthe lever, the second member having a weight less than the weight of the tirs-tV member causing the rst element to be pivoted upwardly and tol ride on: thel rst vilange during the closing movement of- -the door until 'the iirst element enters the opening in the first. Vllange whereupon the second element pivots into the opening in the second ilange and wherebyorce appliedon the operating lever causes the iirst `and second elements to move the door int-o fully closed position.

4. In a railway freight car having a vertically disposed wall including a door opening, a door-mounted on the wall for slidable movement longitudinally 'thereof to cover Y and uncover the opening, a first flange positioned at the top edge of lthe door lopening and secured to thewall and provided with .an opening, a second flange positioned at the bottom edge of the door opening and secured :to the wall and provided with an opening, a firstV element having a hook thereon positioned adjacent the top edge vof lthe door and pivotally connected thereto, a second elementV having a hook thereon positioned adjacent Ithe bottom edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto, a lever pivotally connected t-o the door, a -rst member having one end pivotally connected to the tirs-t element and having its other end pivot-allyV connected to the lever,

and a :second mem-ber having one end pivotally .connected to the second element and having its other end pivotally connected to the lever, the second member `h-aving a weight less than the weight of the rst member 'causing the hook on the first element to ybe urged upwardly and to ride on the irst flange during the closing movement of the dooruntil fthe hook on the tirs-t element enters the opening in the first flange whereupon the hook on the element entersthe openingm the second flange and whereby 'force applied on; the operatingjlever causes vthe hooks 9 on lthe first and second elements -to move the door into the fully closed position.

5. In a railway freight lcar having a vertically disposed wall including sa door opening, a door mounted on the wall for slidable movement longitudinally Ithereof to cover 'and uncover the opening, a irstflange positioned at the top edge of the door opening and secured to 'the wall and provided with an opening, la second flange positioned at the bottom edge yof the door Iopening and secured to Ithe wall and provided with an opening, .a first element having ya Ihook on one end positioned adjacent the top edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, va second element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the bottom edge of ,the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its end-s, a lever disposed between the rst and second elements and pivotally connected Ito the door intermediate its ends, a substantially vertically disposed tirst member having its upper end pivotally connected to the lother end of the -fLrst element and having its lower end pivotally connected to the lever on one side -of the point of pivotal connection `of the lever to the door, and a substantially vertically disposed rsecond member having its lower end .pivotally connected to fthe other end of the second element and having its upper end pivotally connected .to the 'lever on ythe other side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door, the second member having a weight less than the weight yof the irst member, .the greater weigh-t of the tirs-t member causing the hook :on the trst element to -be urged upwardly and to ride on the -rst flange during 4the closing movement of the door until the hook on the iirst element enters the opening in the iirst flange whereupon the hook on the -second element enters the yopening in the second flange and whereby force applied on the operating lever causes the hooks on the iirst and second elements to move Ithe door into fully closed position.

6. In a railway freight car having a side wall a door opening, a door mounted on the side wallfor slidable movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncover the door opening, a first horizontally disposed ange positioned at the top edge of the door opening and extending across the door opening and secured to the wall and provided with an opening adjacent the front edge of the door opening, a second horizontally disposed ange positioned at the bottom edge of the door opening adjacent the front edge thereof and secured to the wall and having a lesser length than the first ange and provided with an opening midway of its length, a first element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the top edge and the front edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a second element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the bottom edge and the front edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a lever disposed between the first and second elements and pivotally connected to the door intermediate its ends, a substantially vertically disposed member having its upper end pivotally connected to the other end of the first element and having its lower end pivotally connected to the lever on one side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door, and a substantially vertically disposed bar `having its lower end pivotally connected to the other end of the second element and having its upper end pivotally connected to the lever on the other side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door, the bar having a weight less than the weight of the member, the greater weight of the member causing the hook on the first element to be urged upwardly and to ride on the lower face of the first iange during the greater part of the closing movement of the door until the hook on the first element enters the opening in the rst ange whereupon the hook on the second element enters the opening in the second ange and whereby force applied on the operating lever causes the hooks v10 on the rstand second elements to move the door into fully closed position.

7. In a railway freight car having a side wall a door opening, a door mounted on the side wall for slidable movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncover the door opening, a first horizontally disposed ange positioned at the top edge of the door opening and extending across the door opening and secured to the wall and provided with an opening adjacent the front edge of the door opening, a second horizontally disposed ange positioned at the bottom edge of the door opening adjacent the front edge thereof and secured to the wall and having a lesser length than the tirst ange and provided with an opening midway of its length, a cam positioned in the opening in the first iiange and secured to the first ange, a first element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the top edge and the front edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a second element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the bottom edge and the front edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a lever disposed between the iirst and second elements and pivotally connected to the door intermediate its ends, a substantially vertically disposed member having its upper end pivotally connected to the other end of the first element and having its lower end pivotally connected to the lever on one side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door, and a substantially vertically disposed bar having its lower end pivotallyV connected to the other end of the second element and having its upper end pivotally connected to the lever on the other side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door, the bar having a weight less than the weight of the member, the greater weight of the member causing the hook on the first element to be urged upwardly and to ride on the lower face of the rst flange during the greater part of the closing movement of the door until the `hook on the first element enters the opening in the rst flange whereupon the hook on the second element enters the opening in the second ange and whereby force applied on the operating lever causes the hooks on the tirst and second elements to move the door into fully closed position.

8. ln a railway freight car having a side wall a door opening, a door mounted on the side wall for slidable movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncover the door opening, a first ange positioned at the top edge of the door opening and secured to the wall and provided with an opening, a second ange positioned at the bottom edge of the door opening and secured to the wall and provided with an opening, a first element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the top edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a second element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the bottom edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a lever disposed between the first and second elements and pivotally connected to the door intermediate its ends, ya generally L-shaped member having one end pivotally connected to the other end of the first element and having its other end pivotally connected to the lever on one side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door, and a bar having one end pivotally connected to the other end of the second element and having its other end pivotally connected to the lever on the other side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door, the bar having a weight less than the weight of the member, the greater weight of the member causing the hook on the rst element to be urged upwardly and to ride on the rst flange during the closing movement of the door until the hook on the iirst element enters the opening in the first ange whereupon the hook on the second element enters the opening in the second liange and whereby force applied on the operating lever causes the hooks on the rst and second elements to move the door into fully closed position.

9. In a railway freight car having a side wall a door 111 opening, a door mounted on the'side wall forslidable movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncover the door opening, a first horizontally disposed-harige vpositioned at the top edge of the door opening and extending across the door opening and secured to the lwalland provided with an opening adjacentthe front edge of the door opening, a secondl horizontally disposed flange positioned at the bottom edge of the door opening adjacent the front edge thereof and secured to the wall and having a lesser length than the'rst ange and provided with an opening midway of its length, a cam positioned inthe Y pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a leve;`

disposed between the first and second elements and pivotally connected to the door intermediate its ends, a substantially vertically disposed' generally L-shaped member having its upper end pivotally connected to the other end of the first element and'having its lower end pivotally connected to the lever on one side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door, and a substantially vertically disposed bar having itsv lower end pivotally connected to the other end of the second element and having its upper end pivotally connected to the lever on the other side ofthe point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door, the bar having a weight less than the disposed between the first-and second elements and piv weight of the member, the greater weight of the member causing the hook on the first element to be urged upwardly Vand to Yride on the lower face o f the tlange during the Vthe door opening, a rsthorizontally disposed flange positioned at the top edge of the door opening and extending across the door opening and secured to the wall and provided with an opening adjacent the front edge or" the door opening, a second horizontally disposed flange positionedV at the bottom edge of the door opening adjacent the front edge thereof and secured to the wall and having a lesser length than the 'first flange and provided with an opening midway of its length, a cam positioned in the opening in the first ange and secured to the first flange, a lirst element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the top edge and the front edge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a second element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the bottom edge and the front edge ofthe door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a lever disposed between the first andv second elements and pivotally connected to the door intermediate its endsa substantially vertically disposedV generally L-shaped member having its upper end pivotally connected lto the other end of the iirst element and having its lower end pivotally connected to the lever onone side of the pointrof pivotal connection of the lever to the door, and a substantially vertically disposed pair of spaced parallel bars having their lower ends pivotally connected tothe other end ofthe second element and having their upper ends pivotally connected 'to the i element to be urged `upwardly andto ride on the lower faceof the first liange during the greater part of thefclosing movement of the door until the hook on the first ele-y ment enters the opening in the first langev whereupon the hook on the second element enters the opening in the secondtflangeand whereby force applied on the operating lever causes the hooks on the rs't and second elements to move the door into fully closed position. t

ll. In a railway freight car having a side wall a door opening, Va vdoor mounted on the side wall for slidable movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncover he door opening, a first horizontally disposed flange positioned at the top edge of the door opening and extending across the door opening and secured to*` the wall and provided with an opening adjacent the'front edge of the door opening, a second horizontally disposed ange po-Y sitioned at the bottom edge` of the door opening adjacent`V the front edge thereof and secured to the wall and having Y a lesser length than the firsthange and provided with an opening midway of its length, a cam positioned in the Y opening in the first flange and secured to the first tlange,

a tirst eiementhaving a hook 'on one end? positioned adjacent the top edgeV and the front edge of Vthe door and Y pivotally connected-thereto intermediate its ends, a second element having a hook on one end positioned adjacent the bottom edge and the'frontedge of the door and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a lever otallyconnected to the door intermediate its ends,za substantiallyy verticallydisposed rod having its upper endy pivotally connected to the other end of the lrst element, a pair of plates arranged atan angle slightly greater than a right angle with the rod and" having one of theirV ends secured to the lower end of the rod andl having their other ends pivotally connectedto the lever on one side of the point of pivotal connection 'of the lever to the door, and j a substantially vertically disposed pair of spaced parallel bars having their lower ends pivotally connected to the other end of the second element and having their upper ends pivotally connected to the lever on the other side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the door,

the pair of bars havinga lesser length than the rod andl the pair or" bars having a combinedweight less than Vthe combined weight of the rod and the pair of plates, the greater combined weight of the rod and the pair of plates causing the hook on the first element to be urged upwardly and to ride on the lower face of the iirst ilange during the. greater part of the closing movement of the ydoor until the hook on the first element enters the opening "in the Vfirst' opening, a 'doorvmounte'd on the side wall for slidabley movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncoverv the door opening, a rst horizontally disposed flange ,posi` tioned at the top edge of `the door opening and extending across the door opening and secured to the wall and provided with an opening adjacent the front edge'of the door opening, a second horizontally disposed flange posi-` tioned at the bottom edge' ofthe door Vopening `adjacent the front edge thereof and secured to the wall and having a lesser length than the first flange and provided with an opening midway of its length, a cam positioned in the opening in the rst flange and secured to the first.

llange, a first spacer positioned adjacentthe top edge and the front edge of the door and secured thereto, a first element having a hook on one end pivotally connected to the rst spacer intermediate its ends, a second spacer i positioned adjacent the bottom-edge and the front edge of the door and securedV thereto, a second element having a hook on onevend pivotally connected to the second spacer intermediate its ends, an angle position'edbetween the first spacer and the second spacer andk adjacent the' second spacer and having one end secured to the door, a first plate having one end secured to the angle intermediate the ends thereof, a second plate spaced from the rst plate and having one face disposed on the other end of the angle and secured thereto, a lever disposed between the rst and second plates and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a substantially vertically disposed rod having its upper end pivotally connected to the other end of the first element, a third plate and a fourth plate arranged at an angle slightly greater than a right angle with the rod and having one of their ends secured to the lower end of the rod and having their other ends pivotally connected to the lever on one side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the rst and second plates and a substantially vertically disposed pair of spaced parallel bars having their lower ends pivotally connected to the other end of the second element and having their upper ends pivotally connected to the lever on the other side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the rst and second plates, the pair of bars having a lesser length than the rod and the pair of bars having a combined Weight less than the cornbined weight of the rod and the third and fourth plates, the greater combined weight of the rod and the third and fourth plates causing the hook on the first element to be urged upwardly and to ride on the lower face of the first ange during the greater part of the closing movement of the door until the hook on the irst element enters the opening in the first ange whereupon the hook on the second element enters the opening in the second flange and whereby force applied on the operating lever causes the hooks on the lirst and second elements to move the door into fully closed position.

13. In a railway box car having a side wall a door opening, a door mounted on the side Wall for slidable movement longitudinally thereof to cover and uncover the door opening, a rst horizontally disposed ange positioned at the top edge of the dooiopening and extending across the door opening and secured to the wall and provided with an opening adjacent the front edge of the door opening, a second horizontally disposed flange positioned at the bottom edge of the door opening adjacent the front edge thereof and secured to the wall and having a lesser length than the rst flange and provided with an opening therein midway of its length, a cam positioned in the opening in the rst flange and secured to the first flange, a first spacer positioned adjacent the top edge and the front edge of the door and secured thereto, a first element having a hook on one end pivotally connected to the first spacer intermediate its ends, a second spacer positioned adjacent the bottom edge and the front edge of the door and secured thereto, a second element having a hook on one end pivotally connected to the second spacer intermediate its ends, an angle positioned between the rst spacer and the second spacer and adjacent the second spacer and having one end secured to the door, a iirst plate having one end secured to the angle intermediate the ends thereof, a second plate spaced from the first plate and having one face disposed on the other end ofd the angle and secured thereto, a lever disposed between the rst and second plates and pivotally connected thereto intermediate its ends, a substantially vertically disposed rod having its upper end pivotally connected to the other end of the lirst element, a third plate and a fourth plate arranged at an angle slightly greater than a right angle with the rod and having one of their ends secured to the lower end of the rod and having their other ends pivotally connected to the lever on one side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the first and second plates, a substantially vertically disposed pair of spaced parallel bars having their lower ends pivotally connected to the other end of the second element and having their upper ends pivotally connected to the lever on the other side of the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the first and second plates, the pair of bars having a lesser length than the rod and the pair of bars having a combined weight less than the combined weight of the rod and the third and fourth plates, the greater combined weight of the rod and the third and fourth plates causing the hook on the rst element to be urged upwardly and to ride upon the lower face of the first ange during the greater part of the closing movement of the door until the hook on the rst element enters the opening in the irst ange whereupon the hook on the second element enters the opening in the second ange and whereby force applied on the operating lever causes the hooks on the first and second elements to move the door into fully closed position, a fth plate horizontally disposed and positioned between the first and second plates and the second spacer and secured to the door and provided with a slot therein, and a catch longitudinally slidably mounted on the lever and adapted to be engaged in the slot in the fth plate after the door has been moved to fully closed position to hold the lever in a fixed position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

